When most nine-year-olds are busy with homework and cartoons, Aarit Kapil from New Delhi is busy shaking up the chess world. In a jaw-dropping moment during an online tournament, this young talent came incredibly close to beating none other than Magnus Carlsen, the reigning king of chess.
The Match That Shocked Everyone
During Chess.com’s Titled Tuesday tournament, which features some of the biggest names in chess, Aarit faced off against Carlsen. The Norwegian grandmaster, often regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, had no idea what was coming.
Despite playing from a hotel room in Georgia where he was competing in the Under-10 World Cadets Cup, Aarit kept his cool. In a fast-paced blitz game where each player had only three minutes (plus a one-second increment per move), the young Indian had Carlsen in a tricky situation, with a powerful rook and dangerous passed pawns against Carlsen’s two minor pieces and exposed king.
Carlsen (3343) vs. Kapil (2702) – Draw, Titled Tuesday, 24 Jun 2025 (Rd 2)
Unfortunately, time was not on his side. With both clocks ticking down rapidly, Aarit made a few mistakes such as Rxc4 and the game ended in a draw after 49 intense moves. Still, drawing against the world number one at just nine years old is no small feat. It’s the kind of thing that turns a young chess lover into a national sensation.
From Beginner to World Stage in Four Years
Aarit’s chess journey began just four years ago. Taught by his elder sister when he was five, he quickly began beating everyone at home, including his dad. Realizing their son had something special, his parents got him a coach. Fast forward to today, and Aarit is a Candidate Master (CM) with a FIDE classical rating of 2078 and a blitz rating on Chess.com that hovers near 2700.
A List of Achievements That Keeps Growing
Here are a few of his recent highlights:
- Drew against World Champion Magnus Carlsen in Titled Tuesday (June 2025, round 2).
- Defeated veteran GM Raset Ziatdinov in a classical match (December 2024), becoming one of the youngest players to do so.
- Scored 7/11 in a recent Titled Tuesday event, including a win over Chilean GM Pablo Salinas.
- Ranked 9th globally among players born in 2015 or later.
A Life Dedicated to Chess
According to his father, Aarit lives and breathes chess. He spends up to six hours a day training and rarely shows interest in video games or movies.
His coach, IM Vishal Sareen, praises Aarit’s deep understanding of the game and his tactical sharpness. Sareen believes that with more international exposure, especially in Europe, Aarit could easily become a grandmaster. And if he continues on his current path, he could very well break into the world elite by the time he is 15.
India’s Rising Chess Star
India is quickly becoming a powerhouse in the chess world, with young stars like Gukesh Dommaraju recently defeating Carlsen in Norway. Aarit’s incredible draw adds to the momentum, showing that the next generation of Indian players is more than ready to take on the best.
If you’re inspired by Aarit’s journey, come be a part of The New England Chess School! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your game, we’re here to help young talents grow. And don’t forget to follow our blog for more stories about rising stars like Aarit!